Legaspi enlisted the help of his children with Villaroel, Cassie and Maverick, as well colleagues of the actress-host from ABS-CBN, to carry out the surprise proposal and wedding ceremony held Thursday evening at Fernbrook Garden in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

The wedding was attended by showbiz colleagues of the couple and their non-showbiz friends and family.

Villaroel and Legaspi have known each other since his "That's Entertainment" days, when the actor-host openly expressed his admiration for the Kapamilya actress. She was 13 years old then.

Before they became a couple, however, the two were romantically linked to other showbiz personalities. Legaspi was in a relationship with Ruffa Gutierrez for a time, while Villaroel was married to actor Rustom Padilla in 1998.

The actress-host's marriage with Padilla was short-lived, however. In 2000, Villaroel separated from the former hunk actor, who later admitted on national television his sexual preference, and re-emerged as a "woman" named BB Gandanghari.

Following this, Villaroel and Legaspi, who had been long-time neighbors in Pasig, became closer as friends and eventually became a couple.

In 2001, the actress gave birth to their children, Cassie and Maverick, in the United States.

After 12 years of being a couple, the chance of marriage had eluded the couple due to "legalities" and "annotations" from Villaroel's previous marriage with Padilla, until August this year.

At the time, on the ocassion of the actress-host's 37th birthday, Legaspi openly expressed his intentions to finally marry Villaroel before the end of the year.

MANILA, Philippines – Actor Zoren Legaspi revealed that he made a promise to actress Carmina Villaroel’s father to marry his daughter.

Celebrity couple Carmina Villaroel and Zoren Legaspi

In an interview with Boy Abunda after the surprise wedding that happened at Fernbrook Garden in Alabang, Muntinlupa City last Thursday, Legaspi said Villaroel’s father was in critical condition months back and he told him that he will marry his daughter once he gets better.

Villaroel and Legaspi have known each other since his "That's Entertainment" days, when the actor-host openly expressed his admiration for the Kapamilya actress, who was 13 years old then.

However, it was only in year 2000 when they became closer as friends and eventually became a couple.

In 2001, the actress gave birth to their children, Cassie and Maverick, in the United States.

After 12 years of being a couple, the chance of marriage had eluded the couple due to "legalities" and "annotations" from Villaroel's previous marriage with actor Rustom Padilla, until August this year.

Actress-TV host Carmina Villaroel was surprised by his partner of 12 years, Zoren Legaspi with a grand proposal and solemn civil wedding held last Thursday (November 15) at Fernbrook Garden in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

Teary-eyed Carmina was shocked and blissful at the same time when she suddenly walked down the aisle in a wedding she never had any idea of. All she knew that she was there to for a photoshoot of a commercial. The big surprise which was organized for almost two months by Zoren, with the help of their families, their twins Mavy and Cassy, and ABS-CBN.

“Finally, this is it! It’s not actually needed but Zoren made it happen. I’m really super happy,” said Carmina during his exclusive interview with “Showbiz Inside Report” which will be shown this Saturday (November 17) on ABS-CBN.

Among those who were invited in the suprise wedding were Carmina and Zoren’s family member and close friends in and out of showbiz. Grace Poe Llamanzares, Eric Quizon, and Kris Aquino were among their godparents.

Don’t miss the exclusive coverage of the surprise proposal and wedding of Carmina and Zoren in the country’s top-rating and trending showbiz-oriented talkshow, “Showbiz Inside Report,” this Saturday, 2:30pm, after “It’s Showtime,” on ABS-CBN. For more updates, log-on at www.abs-cbn.com, follow @SIRTVOfficial on Twitter, or like the Facebook fanpagehttp://www.facebook.com/ShowbizInsideReport.AbsCbn.